strike up a conversation

Meaning

To start a conversation with someone, especially a stranger, in an easy, informal, and spontaneous way. It suggests initiating a chat in a social setting, like a bar, a plane, or a networking event, without any awkwardness. It is a highly common collocation in English.

Examples

• She is so outgoing that she can strike up a conversation with anyone in the room.

  She is so outgoing that she can strike up a conversation with anyone in the room.

• I struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me on the flight to London.

  I struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me on the flight to London.

• It can be difficult to strike up a conversation if you are naturally shy.

  It can be difficult to strike up a conversation if you are naturally shy.

• He managed to strike up a conversation with the hiring manager at the conference.

  He managed to strike up a conversation with the hiring manager at the conference.

• We struck up a conversation while waiting in the long line at the coffee shop.

  We struck up a conversation while waiting in the long line at the coffee shop.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I started to strike a conversation with her.

  ✓ I struck up a conversation with her.

  The phrasal verb requires the particle 'up'. Saying 'strike a conversation' sounds incomplete and unnatural.

• ✗ He struck up conversation with the waiter.

  ✓ He struck up a conversation with the waiter.

  You must include the indefinite article 'a' before 'conversation' in this specific idiom.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I always try to ___ with people when I travel alone.

  💡 start talking to strangers

  Show answer

  strike up a conversation

• She managed to ___ with a famous actor at the party.

  💡 initiate a chat

  Show answer

  strike up a conversation